Stories of human lives can be
fascinating but frequently difficult to index well. The new, updated fourth
edition of Hazel K. Bell’s Indexing Biographies is a valuable guide to
the points for consideration when indexing life histories, biographies,
autobiographies, letters and other narrative texts.



Topics include the indexing of
fiction, analysis of the text before indexing, names and their various forms,
appropriate language choice for index entries, impartiality of the indexer, and
how to treat main characters (through appropriate subheading structure) and
minor characters (where strings of locators are sometimes unavoidable).



The book also discusses more
technical matters of index layout, presentation and arrangement of entries,
such as how to judge whether alphabetical, chronological, page order or
thematic grouping is most appropriate for the text.



Examples of good practice and
outstanding indexes are provided throughout. Lists of useful reference works
and relevant articles from The Indexer journal are also suggested. There
is, of course, a comprehensive index.



Indexing Biographies contains fine advice on best indexing practices
for book indexers, trainee indexers, authors, publishers and all lovers of life
histories. It is an excellent overview of the complex, important and rewarding
task of indexing such material.